Your healthy Southwest Salad gets a major upgrade with this homemade dressing made with ranch, onion powder, and garlic powder. Make it spicy with Chipotles in adobo sauce and/or cayenne pepper if you wish.
This post contains affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure here.
Table of Contents
Dressing Ingredients
- Ranch Dressing, I like to use my homemade recipe. You can also use this ranch from Primal Kitchen.
- Chipotles in Adobo Sauce
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Cumin
How to Make Creamy Southwest Dressing
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Combine ranch, chipotles in adobo sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and cumin in a bowl. Stir until mixed well.
How to Substitute Chipotles in Adobo Sauce in the Dressing
You can use your favorite hot sauce. You can also use fresh tomatoes and smoked paprika (season to your taste).
How to Make it Spicy
Add cayenne pepper to make it spicy. Feel free to add enough to suit your taste.
How to Store the Dressing/How Long it Will Last in the Fridge
Store the dressing tightly sealed and covered in the fridge. It will last up to a week.
What to Pair with the Dressing
Southwest Salad
Healthy Breakfast Salad
Green Goddess Cobb Salad
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cheese
Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Garlic
More Salad Dressing Recipes
Italian Vinaigrette Homemade Dressing
Mango Habanero Sauce
Sugar Free Ranch Dressing
Honey Lime Dressing
Mango Salad Dressing (Fresh or Frozen Fruit)
Creamy Dill Sauce
Creamy Southwest Salad Dressing
Want to save this recipe for later?
I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also get our free digital cookbook with 30-Minute One-Pot Recipes and weekly recipes and tips.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup ranch dressing
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspooon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1-3 tablespoons chipotles in adobo sauce Start with 1 tablespoon. Taste repeatedly and adjust as necessary.
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a jar or bowl. Stir until creamy.
- You can use a food processor or blender if you want to smooth out the chipotles. I like the texture of the dressing without blending.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Data
Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
Want to save this recipe for later?
I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also get our free digital cookbook with 30-Minute One-Pot Recipes and weekly recipes and tips.
Jacqueline says
Safe to say this dressing can go on a lot of things lol
staysnatched says
Very true!
Lisa says
I mean this recipe couldn’t be any simpler! And delicious. Definitely takes the salad game to the next level. Ingredients I always have on hand too. My husband loved it and he usually just uses the same dressing for every salad.
staysnatched says
I'm so glad to hear that!
Natalie Addai says
I made this dressing as described above. Easy and delicious!
staysnatched says
I'm so glad to hear it.
Heather says
I've been hoarding some chipotles in adobo sauce in my cabinet for months (I have to special order them, so I'm very selective about using them haha) and finally found the most amazing way to use them with this recipe, which I'm going to keep in my fridge in absurd quantities at all times, probably. Thanks!
staysnatched says
You're welcome! Perfect way to use them up.
Sabrina B says
So easy, so amazing, makes the salad full of flavor! I will forever be doing this to all my ranch dressing from now on.
staysnatched says
THe perfect way to enjoy it!
Felicia says
This dressing was so good and easy to make! I used Brandi’s ranch recipe as the base.
I put it on salad, steak tacos, and used it as a veggie dip this week. I love it when I get multiple uses from one recipe!
staysnatched says
I love all of those ideas!
Cassandra H says
We use adobo peppers in chipotle sauce regularly but I always have leftovers that end up going bad. This is the perfect recipe to use up the end of the can!!!! We have been using it for salads, fries, chicken tenders, to dip veggies, you came it! It is a nice change from your everyday basic dressings and simple to make!!!
staysnatched says
I'm glad to hear it's simple!
cristina says
Finally made this dressing recipe and it is my new favorite! I made it using Brandi’s from scratch ranch recipe linked in this post and I am never going back. It was easy and most ingredients I already had - better than any store bought dressing I’ve used before. Will become a home staple for me. Must try!
staysnatched says
I'm so glad to hear it will become a staple!
Emily says
So easy to make and so much better than store bought!
staysnatched says
I'm glad you think so.
Ashley says
This dressing is amazing! I could honestly drink it with a straw! Used PK Ranch as a base but planning on using Brandi's ranch recipe as a base next time, which will probably be tomorrow because this batch will not last long!
staysnatched says
Yay! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Sara says
Recipe is FANTASTIC. I used your homemade ranch as the base. Definitely will be making this again in the future!
staysnatched says
Yum! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
Sydney says
Used the recommendations for primal kitchen ranch! I also added in one tablespoon at a time which was the perfect recommendation
staysnatched says
I'm glad you liked the recommendation!
Kendall says
It’s soo good and easy to make! I put it on so many different things but I love using it as a dip for fries and carrots!
staysnatched says
It’s perfect for that!